This research project was commissioned by GTZ as part of their supporting the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) to explore ways in which dialogue can be used to address social challenges in South Africa. During and since South Africa's transition to democracy, Nelson Mandela has exhibited a formidable ability to forgive and suspend judgment, along with an awareness of the importance of listening to all sides. Pioneers of Change was asked in this context to map out a variety of approaches, and to provide an overview, case examples and commentary on each. (continue)

The continuing debate about U.S. policy in Iraq is currently focused on the question of the U.S. presence in Iraq. What is our purpose? Who should be involved in solutions? Are U.S. troop levels right? How long should U.S. troops stay? What does this mean for the larger question of America's role in the world today? This resource presents three policy alternatives for U.S. policy in Iraq today. Resources to facilitate deliberation on this issue are included. Links to additional materials are also available. The materials are produced for use in high school classrooms, and are easily adapted to public discussion. (continue)

In October 2006, North Korea backed up its claim that is it has nuclear weapons with its declaration that it had exploded a nuclear warhead. After careful review, it was determined that this claim was true. The ambiguity about the status of North Korea's nuclear program is over; they have nuclear weapons and want the world to know it. At the end of the month, the North Koreans agreed to return to the six-party talks. These talks have resulted in a tentative agreement. This promises to be the beginning of a long and challenging process. This resource presents four policy alternatives for U.S policy toward North Korea. Resources to facilitate deliberation on this issue are included, and links to additional materials are also available. The materials are produced for use in high school classrooms, and are easily adapted to public discussion. (continue)

Today, the world faces many complex challenges. We can see the results of terrorism, environmental issues and disease, yet for most of us nuclear weapons remain out of sight and out of mind. For many, the abstract theories and jargon that surround nuclear weapons combined with the nearly unimaginable consequences make thinking about the challenges of nuclear weapons difficult. This resource presents a balanced range of views on the questions that surround the future of nuclear weapons. Resources to facilitate deliberation on this issue are included. Links to additional materials are also available. The materials are produced for use in high school classrooms, and are easily adapted to public discussion. (continue)

Terrorism has become a central issue in U.S. policy at home and abroad. How should we respond to terrorism? What U.S. interests are at stake in this issue? What values and interests should guide U.S. policy toward terrorism? What should our long-term goals be? What steps should the United States take in the coming months and years? This resource presents four policy alternatives for U.S. policy concerning international terrorism. Resources to facilitate deliberation on this issue are included. Links to additional materials are also available. The materials are produced for use in high school classrooms, and are easily adapted to public discussion. (continue)

Global warming is in the news daily. This issue is not new. The Kyoto Treaty went into effect on February 16, 2005. While many European nations and Japan signed the treaty, the United States did not. What should U.S. policy be concerning global environmental issues? This resource presents four divergent policy options on the question of U.S. global environment policy. Resources to facilitate deliberation on this issue are included. Links to additional materials are also available. The materials are produced for use in high school classrooms, and are easily adapted to public discussion. (continue)

Burston's July 2007 article pulls no punches and is bound to stimulate dialogue about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The hundreds of comments added by readers attest to that, and are interesting reading themselves. (continue)

Burston's articles pull no punches and easily evoke empassioned dialogue about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This one focuses on our concept of terrorism, and describes why certain common beliefs are misnomers, including "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims," "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter," "Terrorists are generally drawn from the disadvantaged sectors of a population, those who have suffered the worst oppression," "Profiling works," "We don't negotiate with terrorists." (continue)

Utilizing new web-based videoconferencing technology, small groups of university students from the US and predominantly Muslim Countries in the Middle East meet weekly on-line with the help of skilled facilitators. Together they engage in intensive dialogue about the relationship between the U.S. and the Arab and Muslim World, with a particular emphasis on the role of the media in shaping perceptions of the "other." (continue)

The United Nations estimates that 300,000 children are currently fighting in conflicts around the world and hundreds of thousands more are members of armed forces - either being trained for combat or used as laborers. Physical, sexual and emotional abuse is commonplace. Most of these children were forcible conscripted or abducted by fighting forces to become instruments of war, to kill or be killed. Without exception, the experience has devastating effects on their physical, psychological and intellectual development. What started out as a film-making adventure in Africa transformed into much more when three young Americans' travels took a divine turn, and they found themselves stranded in Northern Uganda. They discovered children being kidnapped nightly from their homes and subsequently forced to become fight as child soldiers. This film is dedicated to exposing this tragic, and amazingly untold story. (continue)